Latest Albacete News & Updates

Valencia, Feb 5 (IANS) Inaki Williams scored a 96th-minute winner to see Athletic Bilbao beat Valencia 2-1 to reach the semifinal of the Copa del Rey.The forward came on as a substitute to volley home a cross from his brother Nico when it looked as if the game was heading for extra time, Xinhua reports.Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde made 10 changes to the side that drew 1-1 at home to Real Sociedad on Sunday, but his side took the lead in the 27th minute when Umar Sadiq flicked Robert Navarro’s…

Madrid, Feb 4 (IANS) Reigning Copa del Rey holder FC Barcelona became the first team to reach the semifinals with a 2-1 win away to second division side Albacete.It is the 16th time in the last 20 years that Barca have reached this stage of the competition and it is now the 62nd time in total, a reflection of the consistency of the club in the knockout competition. Of the 43 Copa del Rey finals they have played in, the blaugranes have won 32, making them the most successful club in the history o…

Barcelona, Jan 22 (IANS) Football giant Barcelona have been dealt a major injury blow after their 2-0 win over Slavia Prague on Wednesday night, as their midfield linchpin Pedri Gonzalez has been injured and set to be out for a long time.The Spanish international was forced off shortly after the hour mark and is scheduled to undergo detailed medical assessments in Barcelona on Friday. Early indications suggest the injury is not severe, though reports in Spanish media indicate a minor hamstring t…

Madrid, Jan 16 (IANS) Alvaro Arbeloa, the interim coach of Spanish giants Real Madrid, wil be under immense pressure when his side hosts Levante in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.Arbeloa only had one training session with his new players following his promotion to the Real Madrid B-team to replace Xabi Alonso in the first-team dugout, but that didn’t spare him from criticism after the 3-2 Copa del Rey debacle away to second division Albacete on Wednesday night.Now the team returns to the Santiago…

Madrid, Jan 16 (IANS) FC Barcelona advanced into the quarterfinal of the Copa del Rey with a 2-0 win away to second division leader Racing Santander on Thursday night.Racing defended deep in the first half, and a Barcelona side that started without Pedri, Raphinha or Robert Lewandowski was unable to trouble home goalkeeper Jokin Ezkieta, report Xinhua.Ferran Torres scored the opener on 65 minutes after an excellent pass from Fermin Lopez, and Ezkieta made two excellent saves to keep the score do…

Madrid, Jan 15 (IANS) Alvaro Arbeloa’s debut as Real Madrid coach ended in a shock exit from the Copa del Rey after a 3-2 defeat away to second-tier Albacete.Arbeloa showed faith in the Castilla B-team from which he has just been promoted, with youngsters Jorge Cestero and David Jimenez in his starting 11.The game was played in a foggy Carlos Belmonte Stadium in Albacete and the hosts, who also rested plenty of regular starters, took the lead in the 42nd minute when Javi Villar opened the scorin…